How to Add Mods to a Minecraft Server

Last modified on Feb 27, 2023 in Control Panel

By Dalton Whalen

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Overview

Vanilla Minecraft is jam-packed with a variety of content to explore and use, but this can often become repetitive after playing for a long time. While there are occasional updates that bring new content, many desire a better way to add new content. This dilemma is solved with Minecraft mods, which can completely redefine the gameplay by adding or upgrading features. Adding dangerous mobs, navigating through new dimensions, and finding interesting items is just the surface layer of what can be achieved with these. Whether you are adding mods to an existing modpack or to a standalone Forge setup, you can use them to build your dream server. Adding mods to your server is simplified with our Apex Hosting panel uploader, so we have created this tutorial to help you get started.
 

How to Download Mods

1. Visit the CurseForge Minecraft Mods page.
2. Browse for the mod you wish to use, then click the page.
3. From there, click Files at the top of the mod page.
   
4. Scroll down and click the View All button to access all of the available downloads.
5. Find the version you wish to play with, then press the Download button to the right.
   
6. Save the .jar file to a safe location, as it will be needed shortly.

Server Installation

Now that your desired mod(s) have been installed to your computer, you must now upload it to the server for use. Specific mods may have additional steps required, but each of them will follow the same general procedure:
 

Setting the Game Version

1. Navigate to the Apex server panel, then stop the server.
2. Scroll down to the Game File section and open the dropdown menu.
   
3. Ensure the server is set to match the version of the mod downloaded previously.

   E.g. Forge 1.19.2 or Fabric 1.19.2

4. Afterwards, choose to Change Version, then select I’ll Restart Later.
   

Uploading Mod Files

1. From the main panel page, enter the FTP File Access in the left-hand menu.
2. Here, create or locate the mods folder, then click to enter it.
   
3. Press the Upload button in the top-left corner.
4. Drag + drop the mod .jar file(s) into the right-hand side.
   
5. Once uploaded to 100%, return to the main panel page and restart the server.

(Optional) Generating a New World

For some mods, a new world must be created in order for the new changes to take effect. This is often necessary for mods that add new ores, structures, and other world changes. Creating a new world is very quick thanks to our panel.

1. From the Apex panel, stop the server until it is fully offline.
2. Scroll down to the World section and press the Change World button.
   
3. When prompted, type in a unique world name.
4. Following this, press the green Change World for the adjustments to take effect.
   
5. Finally, restart the server to load up the mod with a new world.

Note: Once the mods are loaded on your server, any players will need to have Forge installed client-side alongside the matching mods. For more information on this, visit our full tutorial on installing mods on your client here.

Common Issues

If the server begins crashing after uploading mods, there are many potential reasons why this may occur. First, ensure that the mod and server are running the same version as well as use the matching modloader. Fabric mods will not work on Forge server and vice versa. For other errors, we recommend checking your server console for a more specific error such as a duplicate mod, missing dependency, or more. Some mods are only required on the client-side and can crash a server if installed, so we recommend keeping an eye out for those. Once the issue has been resolved, restart the server to try loading up the mod(s) again.

If you have recently adjusted or removed any mods and the server is stuck, this may be due to missing mod IDs in your world. When this happens, the server prevents itself from starting in order to prevent any lost data. This can be bypassed by using the /fml confirm command in the server console or generating a new world.

In some cases, certain mods require additional dependency mods in order to function properly. This is often either specific on the mod page itself or may be found within the Relations tab at the top of the Curseforge page. Once located, install the required version for the mod and install it to the server like before. Afterwards, restart the server to see if it loads up properly.
 

Helpful Links

How to Find Minecraft Mods
How to Install Minecraft Mods (Client-Side)
How to Install Forge (Client-Side)